Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 1156: Intoxicants possessed unlawfully

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

Unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor in Indian country or treaty-prohibited areas is punishable by up to one year imprisonment for first offense, or up to five years for subsequent offenses, with limited exceptions for scientific, sacramental, medicinal, or mechanical purposes.

Read the full statutory text
Whoever, except for scientific, sacramental, medicinal or mechanical purposes, possesses intoxicating liquors in the Indian country or where the introduction is prohibited by treaty or an Act of Congress, shall, for the first offense, be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and, for each subsequent offense, be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. The term “Indian country” as used in this section does not include fee-patented lands in non-Indian communities or rights-of-way through Indian reservations, and this section does not apply to such lands or rights-of-way in the absence of a treaty or statute extending the Indian liquor laws thereto.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.